Igniter



K. BERGLOF Nov. 2o, 1923.

IGNITER Filed Aug. 3, 1921 452 www0 fl* /4 Trams/.e Y I y various parts and particularly for insuring' the return ot these parts to their properrela- Patented Nov. 2), i 1923.

YKuur Bnnsnor, or BUFFALO, NEWYoaK.

IGNiTER.

Application filed August 3, 1921. 'SerialNo 489,502..

rllhis invention relates to improvements in i'niters particularly of the type intended yfor use in connection with internal combustion engines for iiring the charge in the cylinder. Y f

In an igniter embodying this invention there is provided a chamber to which gas Wunder compressionI is supplied from the cylinder o the engine. The gas in the chainber is suddenly placed under high compression so that it ignites spontaneously and the burning gas` is then allowed to escape and lire the charge in the cylinder.

One objectof this invention is to provide an ignitor havingv a chamber inwhich a gas is spontaneously ignited by reason of high compression and which igniter is provided with means for controlling the time of ignition and with means for completely clearing the chamber from the spent gases.

Another object is to provide in thechamber of theinjniter normally covered openings which are uncovered when the spontaneous ignition takes place to allow the `burning gas to fire the charge in the cylinder.

A further object is to providein this igniter means supplementing the action of Ygravl,ity for insuring the proper co-action of the tive vpositions after each operation.

Other objectswill appear from a considj (eration of vthe Vspecifications and drawing which` form a part thereof and in which;

ll1 igure v1 shows one embodiment of the inv vention mounted upon a cylinder ot an in.l

ternal vcombustion engine;

Figure '2, 34, 5 and 6 show the various positions assumed by the parts et the i gniter during its operation; Y l

Figure 7 is a 'sectional view taken onthe line '7e-7 yoi-l'figure illustrating the .timing mechanism; y

Figure 8 a cross section on the line 8 8 of ,Figure il; and Y j Figure 9 .is `a cross line 99 of Figure 5.

`Referring to the drawings, the reference section taken on Ythe numeral 10 is used'to designate the upperf.V Y*

portion of a cylinder of an internalcombustion engine. lIhe cylinder 10 has at its upper end a threaded opening 11 in which is i f mounted the lower end o-t the igniter A einL bodying one form of -this invention. -The l igniter A consists of a tube l2 externally threaded at both ends; the :upper end of the 'V tube 12 being closed by a flanged cup 13 and, the lower end by a memberv 14. In the cup 13 "are provided holes 131 by which the upper part of the igniter is in communication with the outer air and the elements in said part are directly subjected to `atmospheric pressure. The member 14 consists of an eX-y ternallythreaded tip 15 which engages the opening, 11 in the cylinder and an internally threaded annular flange 16, which engages the tube 12. Intermediate the tip 15 and the iiange 16 is a cup like portion 17 which is connected to the other portions by flat annularseats 18 and 19. In the cup portion 17 is a lining 2O havingl an annular iiange 21 which rests upon the seat 18 and againstl which the lower end of the tube 12 bears so as to insure an absolute air tight joint.L

lVithin the tube 1,2 is mounted a piston 22 provided with piston rings 23 and having in which rests the lower end ot a spring y26 the upper end of which lbears against the cap 13. y The spring 26 thus functions to hold the Y piston 22 with itslower face bearing'upon the flange 21 of the lining 20. .Mounted to extendl through ay concentric hole 27 in the piston and surrounded by the annular flange 25 is a @chamber28 the walls ,otwhich are formed by. a tube 29. Adjacent kto its;` lower-.end the tube'29 is provided with an annular projection 30 which bears against theL lower face of the piston 22 and which, whenV the chamberis, raised, .causes the pis t0n to be raised also. j ,Y j InV a circumferential groove 31 vadjacent to the upper end of the tube 29 isseated a ring- 32 made jup ott two semi-,circular members. Against this ring normally rests la sleeve .33,

sleeve being slightly recessedin order to' receive the ring Between the 34C of the sleeve 33 and the :upper Jface .of the vwhich surrounds the tube 29 and which :is y provided with a dat annular flap-igeY 34., the

ywhich supports a-conical valve seat 37. Resting on the seat 37 is a conical valve 38 through the stem 39 of which a cotter pin or other suitable means 40 is inserted. This pin 40-will engage the under side of' the valve seat 38 on the `flange 36 as soon as the valve reaches its upward limit of reciprocation.

Mounted to reciprocate within the tube 29 and formed to rest upon the tace ot the valve 39 is a piston 41 provided with piston rings 42. The piston 41 has a concentric pocket 43 in which rests the lower end of' a spring 44, the upper end of which bears against the boss 45 on the under side ot the cap 13. A rod or pin 46 projecting downwardly from the center of the boss extends partly through the coils of the spring 44 and prevents it Jfrom tilting. The upper edge of the piston 41 is provided with a thickened annular fiange 47, which strikes against the boss 45 when the piston is at` its upper limit of reciprocation. (See Fig. 2).

Mounted in the cuplike portion 17 of the lower member 14 is an annular check valve 48, the lower face of which is concaved thus providing an annular space 49 between the valve and they seat 19. This space is connected by the passage 50 through the tip 15 with the engine cylinder. The check valve 48 engages the lower end of the tube 29 which extends into a concentric hole 51 through the valve.

Above the valve 48 and between the lower end of the tube 29 and the inner Jface of the bearing 2 0 is provided a spaceV 52 from which an annular vopening 53 leads tothe lower face of the kpiston 22. Through the wall of the portion 17 and its lining 2O are provided slots 54 so that the space i' 52 is in direct communication with the Cil ton22 and theseat 18.

outer air. The space 52 is ordinarily filled with spent gas from the preceding eXplosion as will appear from the description of operation hereinbelow. As the valve 48 moves from the inoperative position shown 'in Fig. 1 to the operative position shown tering the space 55 it of course follows that as the volume of the space is increased the gas becomes more rareied so thata partial vacuum is created which increases as the piston 22 rises.

Through the tube 29 just above the projection 30 is provided a circle of holes 56 which are normally covered bythe piston 22 but which are uncovered when the parts assume the positions shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The purpose of these holes will be disclosed in the description of operation.

Mounted to rotate around the cup like portion 17 of the member 14 is a sleeve or ring 57 having circumferential slots 58 which are of the same size as and which coincide with the slots 54 when vthe ring 57 is shifted by the handles 59. The eiective size ot the slots 54 can be adjusted as desired. Y

The operation of this igniter is controlled solely by the compressed gas in the cylinder 10 which through the passages 50 and 51 land `the space 49 act-s against the various valves and pistons to raise them Y against the force of gravity and the tension oi*l the springs 26, 35 and 44.

During the suction and exhaust strokes of the cylinder piston (not shown) the various parts retain the position shown in Figure 1. As soon, however, as the compression stroke starts the compressed gas in the cylinder passes through the openings 50 and 51 and raises the valve 38. The gas then rushes past the valve and bearing against the lower face of the piston 41 quickly raises it to the position shown in Figure 2, the spring 44 being too light to resist the pressure exerted by the compressed gas. The chamber 28 is thus 105 filled with the compressed gas from the cylinder 10. Simultaneously with this operation o'f the valve 38 the compressed gask fills the space 49 and raises the valve 48 so as to completely fill the space 52 and 110 prevent the entry of gas or air into the space 55.

As the cylinder piston rises andthe pressure of' the compressed gas in the cylinder increases, greater pressure is exerted 115 against the lower end of the flange 36 of the tube 29. Inasmuch as the piston 22 is held by the spring 26 against the lange 30 the pressure exerted by the compressedi gas is resisted by the spring 26 and the 120 normal atmospheric pressure as will be disclosed from examination of Figs. 2 and Since air can not enter the space 55, as the size of the space increases by the raising of the piston 22 the partial vacuum there- 125 in will increase and hence the effectiveness of the atmospheric pressure on the upper face of the piston 22 and against the pressure of the compressed gas also increases.

'ln connection with these forces, it will be 130 noted that the atmospheric pressure is ex'- erted against the sectional area of the 'piston 22 as Well as that ofthe tube 29 and that the compressed gas bears on both sides of the flange equally so that the compressed gas bears merely against thesectional area. of the tube and consequentlyY raises it. The piston 41 being atV the upward limit of its reciprocation, and the tube 29 raised by the compressed gas, the volume of the chamber 28 will diminish be evidentfrom "an examination of Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing:v Y

The pressure of the Compressed gas increases as the compression stroke of the cylinder piston in the cylinder continues until finally the tube`291is forced' out of the opening 51- in the valve 48. The'gas then rushes in to fill 'the space 55 and since it now exerts pressure against the sectional area of the piston 22 as well Vas of the tube 29 the parts are quickly forced into the position shown in Figure ,4.1 During this movement of parts the 'valve 87closes, the C valve being retarded by gravity and held against the seat by the increased pressure applied upon'the gas in the chamber 28.

When the position shown in Figure 4 has been reached the pressure von the contained gas in the chamber 28 is so greatthatY it c ignites spontaneously. VVThis action in the chamber 28 further increases the pressure and forces the tube 29 downwardly through the piston 22 against the action of the spring 35 until the sleeve 33 bears upon the top i begins the `part's' of the igniterV under the force of gravityassisted by the springs 27,

35 and 44 assume the position shown in..

Figure l ready for further operation, most ofthe spent Vgas in thespace 55 escapm' 'through the slots 54 but part will. remain in 'thespace 52.

As pointed out abovethe effectiveness of thel resistance Ato thepressure of the coinpressed gas in the cylinder of the jatmos` vpherio pressure on the piston 22 vvaries ac cordiiig tothe partial vacuum created in the space 55. Y

The eiectiveness varies directly with the 55 and consequent@ var-ies inversely with the amount-,ef gas er zur trapped in: .the

space 55. For example, if the ring 57' be' turned Aso that the slots 54V are fwide open f a large part of the gas and air in the space 52 will escape when the valve -48 vis raised and only a small p'ar't'betrapped` in [the space 55 so that a very high partiall vacuumv will be createdbythe raising of the pistonAk 22 and asa result the resistance to the urge` of the ycompressed gas in the cylinder tof raise the chamber 28 willY bergreat, andthe chamber will not .be freed from the valve 48 until the cylinder piston ha-scompleted Vor nearly completed its upward travel. If-

on the other hand the ring 57`be shifted) `to close the slots 54 all the gasA and air in the space 52 will be forced by the valve 4S through the passagea53 into the space 55 s o that the intensity kof the partial vacuumL created bythe piston `22 will be less thanv before and as a result the resistance totheV raising` of the chamber by the Vccnmpre'ssed gas in the cylinder'will b'e less sothat the charge will be fired before the cylinder piston has completed its upward travel. In the first example the time has been retarded while in the second example it has been advanced. It is obviously possible by rshifting the ring 57 and adjusting the effective sizeof the slots 54 to regulate the time at which the explosion in the engine cylinder will take place. Such regulation is abso' lutely essential for'eflicient voperation of the engine. j

It will be noted that 'an igniter made according to this invention can be regulated in the same way as the wellvknown spark plug without the necessity of electric wiring, battery', or magneto, or timer. Y

/Vhile one embodiment only of this invention has A'been shown and described applicant is not to be limited thereby lsinceit is obvious that others can be made without dey part'ingfromthe spirit and scope of the invention Vas set yforth i-'n the following claims.

Having thus described my vinvention that.`

which I claim v'as newV and for which I desire the protection of Letters -Patent United States is the following: Y

of the Y- l llzi l; In an ign-iter for compressed gas in gine, @tumba aanpast@ tje ,madera such/gas, Ymeans-fer compressing the "gas inauch emmer.; l@ par@ adapte-io heeled by the `compressed gas in the `cylinder means (zo-operating with the piston toprovide Aa the cylinder of an' internal combustion en- Y i .chamber Aforgfeal ing said last namedchamber durrnglthe fralsing ofthe'p'iston, therebytocrea a v uu'm cenare@ by which sa 'farsa-g the 'piston y 2. Ina'nigniteifforcompressedfgasn'the l cylinder koflan yinte' rr'ia'lfcombustron 'cugina-"a chamber adapted rto be wit-bench" *gaaY` iso f f means for compressing the gas in such chamber, a piston adapted to be raised by the compressed gas in the cylinder, means co-operating with the piston to provide a chamber below the same and means eliective during the raising of the piston for sealing said last named chamber.

3. In an igniter for compressed gas in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, a chamber adapted to be filled with such gas, means for compressing the gas in such chamber, a piston adapted to be raised by the compressed gas in the cylinder, means co-operating with the piston to provide a chamber below the same, and means actuated by the compressed gas in the cylinder for sealing said last named chamber.

l. In an igniter for compressed gas in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, a chamber adapted to be filled wit-h such gas, means for compressing the gas in such chamber, a piston adapted to be raised by the compressed gas in the cylinder, means co-operating with the piston to provide a chamber below the same, and a valve below said piston actuated by the compressed gas in the cylinder for sealing said last named chamber.

5. In an igniter for compressed gas in the cylinder'of an internal combustion engine, a piston, a cylinder therefor, means co-operating with said pistonand cylinder to provide a chamber below said piston, said chamber having an opening, and a valve for closing said opening, saidV valve being actuated by the compressed gas Vin the cylinder.

Y 6. In an igniter for compressed gas in the cylinder or' an internal combustion engine, a piston, a cylinder therefor, means co-operating with said piston and cylinder to provide a chamber below said piston, said chamber having an opening, and a valve Jfor sealing said opening and preventing the escape of the gas from below the piston, said valve being actuated by the compressed gas in the cylinder.

7.y In an igniter for compressed gas in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, a

piston, a cylinder therefor, means co-operating with said piston and cylinder to provide a chamber below said piston, said chamber having an opening, a valve lor sealin said opening and preventing the escape ol' the gas trom below the piston, said valve being actuated by the compressedgas in the cylinder, and means for raising said piston.

8. In an igniter for compressed gas in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, a part providing` a chamber adapted to be lilled with such gas, and an annular piston surrounding said part, .said part'being raised by compressed gas in the cylinder and having means to engage said piston and raise the same and means whereby said piston opposes the Yraising ,of said part.

9. In an igniterfor compressedgas in the' cylinder of an internal combustion engine, a part providing a chamber Vadapted toV be filled with such gas, and an annular vpiston' surrounding said part, said part being raised by the compressed gas in the cylinder and having means to engage said piston and raise the same and means e ective only during an initial period of the raising ot' said part' whereby said piston opposes the raising of said part. Y

10. In an igniter for compressed gas iny the cylinder of an internal Vcombustion en-. gine, a part providing a. chamber adapted to be filled with such gas, a piston surrounding said part, means for insuring the substantially simultaneous reciprocation olfsaid part and piston, andimeans whereby said piston is raised by the compressedvgas in the cylinder acting first against the chamber alone and later against both chamber and piston.

11. In an igniter for compressed gas in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, a part providing af chamber adapted to be filled with such gas, a piston surrounding said part, means for insuring the substantially simultaneous reciprocation of said part and piston, and a valve below the piston and surrounding the lower end of the part, said valve being raised by the compressed gas in the cylinder and said piston and part heilig raised by such gas acting irst against the part alone and later against both part and piston. y

12. In an igniter for compressed gas in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, a part providing a chamber adapted to be filled with such gas, a piston in said chamber, rsaid chamber having openings nearits lower end, an annularvpiston surrounding said part, and normally covering said openings, said annular piston and part being raised, relative to the piston in the chamber, by the compressedV gas in vthe cylinder until the gas in the chamber is so compressed thatv it ignites spontaneously, the result otthat ignition being to depress the part relative to the annular piston and thereby uncover the openings in the chamber to permit the burning gas to escape and explode the compressed gas in the cylinder; the annular piston a.. d*`

part being further raised by the torce of the, A

explosion so that the chamber completelj)Y filled by the irst named piston.

18. In an igniter for compressed gas in. the

cylinder of an internal combustion engine#v chamber adapted to be lilled with such gas, means for compressing such gas until it` ignites spontaneously, means providing a lvacuum influence to which the compressing means is subject and means for timing the operation by regulating the intensity "of the vacuum inlluence.

111. In an igniter lorcompressed gas inthe cylinder Otan internal combustion eng-ind;J

chamber adapted to be illed with such gas,

an annular piston surrounding said chamber, the lower face oi' said piston when inoperative being in communica-tion through apassage with the outer air and means for ad* justingthe size of said passage for regulating the time ot' operation of'said igniter.

l5. In an igniter for compressed gas in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, a

chamber adapted to be iilled with such gas, means including an annular piston for coinpressing the gas inthe chamber until it ignites spontaneously, an annular seat against which said piston bears at its lowest limit of reciprocation, said seat having an opening therethrough, a valve iii said igniter below said seat, said igniter having a chaniber between said valve and said seat and the wall oi said chamber having slots communicating with the outer air, and means i'oi against which said piston bears at its lowest.

limit of reciprocation, said seat having an openingV therethrough, a valve in said igniter below said seat, said igniter having' a chamber between saidvalve and said seat and t-he wall of said chamber having slots communi- Y eating with the outer air, andI a ring on saidigniter for adjusting the effective size of said slots. Y

17. In an ignitei for compressed gas in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine,

a chamber adapted to be filled with such'gas,

means including an annular piston for coinpressing the gas in the chamber until it ignites spontaneously, an annular seat against which said piston bears at its lowest limit of reciprocation, said seat having anopening'therethrough, a valve in said -igniter belowsaid seat, said ignit-er'having a cham? ber between said valve and saidy seat and the` 5' wall of said chainberhaving slots communicating with the outer air,'and,a ring on saidv igniter having slots coincidingin one posi-v tion of the ring with the slots iirst named.

18 In an igniter for compressed gas in thevcylinder of an internal combustion engine, a chamber adapted to be illed with such gas, means including an annular piston for compressing the gas in the' chamber until itVV ignites spontaneously, an y, annular against which 'said piston bears at its klowest limitof reciprocation, said seat having a-n opening therethrough, a valve in said igniter belowl said seat, saidigniter having a chamber between said valvel and-said seatand the wall of said chamber having slots coinmunieating with the outer air, a ring on said igniter having slots coinciding in one posi tion of thering with the slots irst named seatv and means for rotating said ring toadjust the effective size of said slots. Y l

19. In an igniter for compressed gas in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, a chamber in which such gasfr'om said cylinder is vcompressed until it ignites spontaneously, said compression being the result of` the action of the compressed gas in saidcyl V iiider Vupon said chamber, anl annular piston surrounding said chamber, a. valve below said-piston and also surrounding said cham- "ber, said valve preventing the vcompressed gas in thecylinder from kbearing'directly upon said pistonuntilsaid chamber is raised out of Contact with said valve. n

In testimony whereof, I vatiix iny signature. i Y y KNUT BERGLOF. 

